Sunday, June 15, 2008

Title: The Case of the Cautious CoquetteAuthor: Erle Stanley GardnerCover artist: John Fernie

Yours for: $8

Best things about this cover:

Georgia's audition for the "New Avengers" ended very, very badly.

I'm no fashion expert, but I'm pretty sure a pink cape does not go with a strapless orange jumpsuit. Not that I don't admire her courage.

Q: What is she doing with her left arm?

a. trying to clear the frog from her throat

b. doing the first part of a Sammy Sosa-style salute to her fans (peace sign to follow)

c. wiping blood from her chin

d. preparing to throw an elbow at the small man standing behind her whom we cannot see

e. doing her post-murder celebration dance

Best things about this back cover:

First paragraph = How to cop a feel, Perry Mason-style! "I'm looking for a gun!" Man, I gotta use that one.

After so much exposure to it, I now feel that Erle Stanley Gardner's signature is trying to send me some kind of secret message...

Check out the ad for another book - exploitation of the advertising potential of the back cover is a late development, and would be unwelcome if it didn't give me a great window on the literary context of the time. Plus ... miniature cheese/beefcake!

Page 123~

"But all this isn't going to do you any good," Drake said irritably. "You're simply crucifying yourself. Figure what the papers will do when they - why, hang it, Perry, it will put your neck right in a noose. Evidence of flight is evidence of guilt."

Say...is that Ginger Grant? is it possible this is why she was on that three-hour tour? Was she on the lam? And maybe could she have been the cause of the shipwreck, because she wanted to make sure the cops couldn't find her?

'First paragraph = How to cop a feel, Perry Mason-style! "I'm looking for a gun!"'

Reminds me of a blooper I saw from the old tv show 'Cannon' starring William Conrad. He's facing the wall, hands flat against it while he's being frisked by a woman. She's patting his front pants pockets and he says "If you're doing that for my benefit make bigger circles."

About Me

Welcome to Pop Sensation

Now With a Regular Publication Schedule!:

New Paperbacks Every Monday and Friday!

This site is dedicated to my vintage paperback collection. Every couple of days, I pull a book off the shelf and write about its cover. That's it. To understand the spirit of the blog, please read the following: